Why you should fly BA
Nov 6, 2011, 8:10 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Northern Europe
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 373
Why you should fly BA
I'm in my op-uped C seat in LHR T5, going to OSL. Sitting there happy in my own little world I suddenly hear the captain going 'OK better tell everyone what is going on' and next thing he announces that he has had his walk around the aircraft and he's not happy with some damage he has spotted - probably caused by a collision with a ground crew vehicle. Apparently the engineers have had a look as well and they are not happy either - so we have to change aircraft.
The captain goes on to explain that they are 'normally very resourceful' here at Heathrow and it should not take long to get us moved to another plane. He gives an ETA of 45-60 minutes.
Then the whole BA ground crew machinery goes into overdrive. Amazingly, they somehow find an aircraft they can use - in about 10 minutes. Then the ground crew come onboard, start unloading the catering - all done in a matter of minutes - they just wheel the carts out and onto their vehicle and zoom off to the other plane. Shortly after the baggage is moved - again this without any fuss.
Then 25 minutes after the announcement, we are told to collect our belongings and wander off to another gate to board the new aircraft. When at the gate I notice it's all prepped and ready - crew are not faffing about but know what to do and the computer systems seem to be coping well with the move. About 15 mins later we are given the all-clear and just board again - the seating is all the same. Status pax are given priority boarding.
Once we take off I realise they have moved everything across in record time, the whole operation - moving pax, baggage, crew and catering from one A319 to another took less than 50 minutes.
While this was going on the captain cleverly negotiated with flight control and the ground crew and constantly tried to get us a new slot - which he somehow did so we did not have to wait long on the ground to wait for the new assigned slot.
I am impressed and it's just reminded me of how good BA can be when things go wrong.
The captain could have said 'oh well what is the worst that could happen?' and just taken off, with the damage to the fuselage - I bet that would have happened on some carriers. I am very grateful that he took security so seriously - and impressed with the speed it took to change aircraft.
BA often costs more than the competition. But if you are travelling on business, they may leave you high and dry when something goes wrong. BA do not - they take care of you and really seem to care. To fly and to serve indeed.
The captain goes on to explain that they are 'normally very resourceful' here at Heathrow and it should not take long to get us moved to another plane. He gives an ETA of 45-60 minutes.
Then the whole BA ground crew machinery goes into overdrive. Amazingly, they somehow find an aircraft they can use - in about 10 minutes. Then the ground crew come onboard, start unloading the catering - all done in a matter of minutes - they just wheel the carts out and onto their vehicle and zoom off to the other plane. Shortly after the baggage is moved - again this without any fuss.
Then 25 minutes after the announcement, we are told to collect our belongings and wander off to another gate to board the new aircraft. When at the gate I notice it's all prepped and ready - crew are not faffing about but know what to do and the computer systems seem to be coping well with the move. About 15 mins later we are given the all-clear and just board again - the seating is all the same. Status pax are given priority boarding.
Once we take off I realise they have moved everything across in record time, the whole operation - moving pax, baggage, crew and catering from one A319 to another took less than 50 minutes.
While this was going on the captain cleverly negotiated with flight control and the ground crew and constantly tried to get us a new slot - which he somehow did so we did not have to wait long on the ground to wait for the new assigned slot.
I am impressed and it's just reminded me of how good BA can be when things go wrong.
The captain could have said 'oh well what is the worst that could happen?' and just taken off, with the damage to the fuselage - I bet that would have happened on some carriers. I am very grateful that he took security so seriously - and impressed with the speed it took to change aircraft.
BA often costs more than the competition. But if you are travelling on business, they may leave you high and dry when something goes wrong. BA do not - they take care of you and really seem to care. To fly and to serve indeed.
Nov 6, 2011, 8:14 am
#2
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: BRU
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 518
I absloutley agree. It's simply a disgrace how some carriers, and not just LCCs, treat their passengers when things go wrong.
Obviously in this case it helped that the incident happended at BA's home base and there was a spare a/c but nevertheless impressive indeed.
Obviously in this case it helped that the incident happended at BA's home base and there was a spare a/c but nevertheless impressive indeed.
Nov 6, 2011, 8:32 am
#3
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 124
Here here...
When the ash could incident had happened, my grandparents were on an inbound flight to LHR when it got diverted to GLA. Upon landing, the CC brought out the drinks trolleys and started giving everyone whatever they had left 'out back' to keep people happy. After being held for 90min on the ground, they (somehow) were allowed to carry on to LHR. When booking their own travel, they now always fly BA.
Last month I had a horrific experience with another airline (not BA) flying to YYZ. Plane delayed by four hours due to technical problem and then had to stop over in Newfoundland for a crew change as they had gone out of hours (really?). And then the catering....lets leave that well alone. Rude Cabin Crew. Really really rude.
BA, I'm sorry I ever left you. Never will it happen again. I promise.
When the ash could incident had happened, my grandparents were on an inbound flight to LHR when it got diverted to GLA. Upon landing, the CC brought out the drinks trolleys and started giving everyone whatever they had left 'out back' to keep people happy. After being held for 90min on the ground, they (somehow) were allowed to carry on to LHR. When booking their own travel, they now always fly BA.
Last month I had a horrific experience with another airline (not BA) flying to YYZ. Plane delayed by four hours due to technical problem and then had to stop over in Newfoundland for a crew change as they had gone out of hours (really?). And then the catering....lets leave that well alone. Rude Cabin Crew. Really really rude.
BA, I'm sorry I ever left you. Never will it happen again. I promise.
Nov 6, 2011, 8:40 am
#4
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: YYZ
Programs: BA Gold/Marriott Gold/HH Diamond/IC Plat Amba
Posts: 5,994
Last month I had a horrific experience with another airline (not BA) flying to YYZ. Plane delayed by four hours due to technical problem and then had to stop over in Newfoundland for a crew change as they had gone out of hours (really?). And then the catering....lets leave that well alone. Rude Cabin Crew. Really really rude.
But to be fair if it is AC you are referring to they are a very good airline as far as safety is concerned plus a long haul from a foreign base tech problem is obviously going to be a bigger problem than for BA finding a replacement aircraft for a SH route from LHR. I imagine if it had happened in OSL it wouldn't have been resolved so quickly for obvious reasons. That being said I have always been treated well by BA in these type of situations and I do agree with the OP.
Nov 6, 2011, 10:03 am
#7
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Quite close to NQY
Programs: BAEC Silver,clubcard,clubcard plus, BA Amex................ And Mucci x3 ;)
Posts: 9,488
Doesnt take long to move a few trays of salad for CE and some crisps for Y !!
cs
Nov 6, 2011, 10:59 pm
#12
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: North Island, NZ
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 69
I was similarly impressed a couple of years ago when it was anounced that the toilets were blocked on the 744 we were about to board at T5b going somewhere in North America.
Another plane was found, all bags and provisions moved over and we were boarding only an hour later! We were kept fully informed the whole time. I think that this was the point that BA had earnt my loyalty.
Another plane was found, all bags and provisions moved over and we were boarding only an hour later! We were kept fully informed the whole time. I think that this was the point that BA had earnt my loyalty.